Area 51 crash-landing on PCs

Gamers will be getting a close encounter of a third kind from Area 51. In addition to releases for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, there will be a third version of the first-person shooter from Midway. As previously speculated, Midway today announced that a PC version will ship April 25 alongside the console versions. Area 51 is being developed on all platforms by Midway's Austin studios.

In the game, players will infiltrate Area 51 in order to stop a viral outbreak from reaching the masses. Along the way, protagonist Ethan Cole will uncover conspiracies--such as the famed UFO crash landing in Roswell and a staged lunar landing--will battle infected guards with alien and human technology, and will get help from Edgar, a friendly gray alien.

The game will feature voice talent from X-Files star David Duchovny, Deadwood actor Powers Boothe, and rocker Marilyn Manson.

For more information on Area 51, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of the console versions.